GAELIC GAMES/Kerry 0-16 Galway 0-8:GALWAY REMAIN pointless as a Colm Cooper-inspired Kerry demolished the Tribesmen without ever hitting top gear in this uneventful Division One clash at Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney, yesterday.
Galway were desperately disappointing while Kerry boss Jack OConnor was reasonably happy with the performance rather than the result as the game afforded him the opportunity to give some of his younger players game time.
He also gave the recently-returned Tom O’Sullivan and Declan OSullivan their first taste of action this year.
A rather scrappy opening half was lit up by the silken skills of Cooper who drew gasps from an appreciative crowd with his vision and skill.
The Dr Crokes man showed quick hands to put Tomás Ó Sé through and his pass found Donnacha Walsh inside the Galway cover, who punched Kerry 0-3 to 0-2 in front.
Galway had started the game well with two points from centre-back Gary Sice and a free from Cormac Bane.
But a levelling point from Owen Concannon on 13 minutes was as good as it got for the visitors in the opening half as they failed to post another score before the break.
It was all Kerry as Tomás Ó Sé, Eoin Brosnan and Aidan OMahony broke up sporadic attacks while at the other end a combination of the sniping runs of Darran O’Sullivan and the genius of Cooper had Galway on the back foot.
After a point from David Moran and a Cooper free, came a magic moment in the 28th minute. Moran delivered a long ball that looked to be the property of Galway corner-back Alan Burke. However, Cooper leaped highest to gather before turning two defenders and lofting over a magnificent point.
Another Cooper free and a Bryan Sheehan 45 brought the curtain down on a disappointing opening half as Kerry were ahead by 0-8 to 0-3.
Kerry opened the second half with three quick points – two from play by Cooper and a Bryan Sheehan free – which pushed them eight points clear inside the opening seven minutes.
However, with Joe Bergin and Finian Hanley winning good ball at midfield, Galway began to close the gap with a fine effort from play by Cormac Bane and two frees from Owen Concannon, to leave Kerry 0-11 to 0-7 in front with 20 minutes remaining.
However, the introduction of Tom O’Sullivan, Declan OSullivan and Anthony Maher put an end to Galway hopes of a revival with Cooper as influential as ever in the closing exchanges.
In the 57th minute he gained possession just outside the Kerry 45 on the wing and his beautiful pass released Ó Sé to score a great point.
Galway only managed a single point in the closing 20 minutes which came from the boot of Joe Bergin.
Kerry were afforded the luxury of kicking nine second-half wides and still won by double scores but on the day that Paul Galvin made his first appearance on the bench, it was Cooper who stole the show.
KERRY: B Kealy; S Enright, K Young, B Maguire; T Ó Sé (0-1), E Brosnan, A OMahony: S Scanlon (0-1), D Moran (0-1): Darran OSullivan, B Sheehan (0-3, 0-2 frees, 0-1 45), D Walsh (0-1); C Cooper (0-8, 0-3 frees), K Donaghy (0-1), K OLeary. Subs: T OSullivan for B Maguire (52 mins), A Maher for D Moran (52 mins), Declan OSullivan for B Sheehan (52 mins), G ODriscoll for Darran OSullivan (63 mins), D Geaney for K OLeary (64 mins).
GALWAY: A Faherty; N Coyne, C Forde, A Burke; G ODonnell, G Sice (0-1), K Brady; J Bergin (0-1), F Hanley; P Conroy, O Concannon (0-4, 0-3 frees), E Hoare; C Bane (0-2, 0-1 free), C De Paor, D Cummins. Subs: J Duane for N Coyne (15 mins), F Breathnach for D Cummins (half-time), M Clancy for C De Paor (43 mins), D Blake for E Hoare (52 mins), G Higgins for G ODonnell (57 mins).
Referee: M Condon (Waterford).
